Errors cost Fort Recovery in loss

FORT RECOVERY — The Indians rallied in the fifth inning.
The game slipped away in the seventh.
Franklin Monroe scored four unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning Monday to beat the Fort Recovery High School baseball team, 8-5.
“We gave up more unearned runs,” FRHS coach Jerry Kaup said. The Indians fell to 5-2 on the season and host Midwest Athletic Conference opponent Coldwater Cavaliers at 5 p.m. today in a non-league contest. “Our defense has been leakier this year than we’ve been hoping for.
“We’ve made a lot of errors. Tonight was no exception.”
Back-to-back singles from Logan Ressler and Bryce Filbrun to lead off the seventh inning gave the Jets (2-3-1) two base runners, and after a strikeout a pair of throwing errors allowed Ressler to score and break a 4-4 tie.
Kaup elected for relief pitcher Ben Homan (0-1) — he suffered the loss, giving up four unearned runs, two hits, three walks while striking out one in his pitching debut — to intentionally walk Zach Hyre to load the bases, then a passed ball plated another run.
Franklin Monroe was on top 6-4.
Another intentional walk to Zack Cable loaded the bases again, and another throwing error allowed two runs to score and give the Jets an 8-4 advantage.
“There is no quit in these guys,” said FMHS coach Randy Meyers. “We strung together a couple hits. They had a couple errors but we had to put it in play.
“That was big, going up to the plate with a lot of confidence in each other. That is what we have been preaching all year — confidence.”
“Just gave up too much,” Kaup said.
Fort Recovery out-hit Franklin Monroe 8-7, as Jackson Hobbs, Jacob Homan, Chase Bruns and Reese Rogers each had two hits. Homan ripped a double in the seventh inning for the game’s only extra base hit.
Rogers had two of the team’s four RBIs with a single during the second and a groundout in the seventh. They were the first RBIs and hits of his career.
“He swung the bat well today,” Kaup said. Rogers was hitless in nine plate appearances before Monday. “I was glad to see him get started … I’m happy for him.”
But the Indians weren’t able to get the clutch two-out hit. They left 10 runners on base, including two runners in scoring position the second, fourth and seventh innings.
“We took some good at bats but we haven’t been able to get those big two-out hits,” Kaup said. “We left a lot of guys on base … We have a lot of new players. We are playing a lot of sophomores. We’re still learning.”
On a cold, brisk and snowy evening, a mental mishap in the game’s first inning and a dropped third strike helped the Jets jump out to a 4-0 lead. The Indians cut the deficit in half with a run in each of the second and third frames, the latter of which came on an RBI single from Homan.
In the fifth inning, Bruns hit a line shot off the glove of FMHS third baseman Jeremy Bridenbaugh to score Hobbs, and as the ball trickled into the outfield Homan came around to score the game-tying run.
Bruns (1-0) started the game, tossing 5 1/3 strong innings despite a shaky first. He did not factor into the decision, scattering five hits, giving up four runs — one earned — while walking one and striking out eight.
“He pitched well the whole time,” Kaup said. “We took him out in the end because I just felt his breaking ball was not coming down.”
Noah Koffer got the nod on the mound for Franklin Monroe to earn the victory. He threw six innings before giving way to Cade McGlinch in the seventh after the first two Indian hitters got on base. Koffer was charged with five runs — four earned — while allowing eight hits and three walks. He struck out four.
“Noah is a bulldog out there,” Meyers said. “He is 5-foot-nothing … he is a monster. He is a kid that will go out there, he’ll compete and he’ll give you everything he’s got.”
A groundout and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Fort Recovery with one out in the seventh, and McGlinch got Rogers to ground out to the second baseman despite allowing an RBI. He then struck out Will Homan to end the game and record the save.